Ball joint for omni-directional motion attachments

ABSTRACT

A ball joint having a ball element surrounded by a pair of ball cups of plastic material which are friction welded along the equator of the ball element and having a sleeve surrounding the ball cups.

United States Patent 1 1 3,695,650

Stuck Oct. 3, 1972 BALL JOINT FOR OMNI- 3,343,895 9/1967 Morrison ..308/ 196 DIRECTIONAL MOTION 3,002,870 10/1961 Belgarde'et a1 ..156/73 X ATTACHMENTS 2,906,569 9/1959 Runton et a1. ..308/72 72 Inventor; Klaus Stuck Buderich Germany 2,956,61 l 10/ 1960 .lendrisak et al 156/73 3,062,695 11/1962 Hull ..l56/73 1 Asslgneea Duesseldmf' 3,058,513 10/1962 Schaubet al. ..l56/73 x [22] Filed: Sept. 22, 1970 Primary Examiner-Andrew V. Kundrat 21 APP] NOJ 74 32 Attorney-Arthur Schwartz [30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABS CT A ball joint having a ball element surrounded by a pair 1969 Germany 19 53 3972 of ball cups of plastic material which are friction 52] U 8 Cl 287/88 308/72 welded along the equator of the ball element and hav- 51 111cm. ..F16c 11/06 ing a Sleeve summding the ban cups [58] Field of Search ..l56/73; 287/88; 308/72; 29/ 149.5 E

[56] References Cited 3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,814,538 11/1957 Connolly ..308/72 mnmcnucra Ian i ATTORNEY BALL JOINT FOR OMNI-DIRECTIONAL MOTION ATTACHMENTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to ball joints, and in particular to ball joints for omni-directional motion attachments such as the attachment of shock absorbers or of tie in motor vehicles.

2. Description of the Prior Art Shock absorbers of the type which are to be attached by means of a ball joint according to the invention, for example, have the shape of a cylindrical tube with one end thereof closed. They include a movable piston inside the tube which is attached to a piston rod extending from the other end of the tube. The closed end of the tube is attached to one part of the vehicle in question, and the free end of the piston rod is attached to another part of the vehicle. Known attachments consist of an attachment eye on each of the attachment points of the shock absorbers and a matching forked yoke on each of the corresponding vehicle parts. The eye and yoke are transversed by a connecting pin. Between the inner wall of the eye and the connecting pin is normally arranged a rubber sleeve so as to produce a resilient rubber lock mount. Such a resilient mount offers very little yield in the radial direction. It, therefore, produces a relatively great resistance force, when the shock absorber axis deviates from its perpendicular alignment with the connecting pin which occurs when the vehicle is driven. This resistance force is detrimental to the desired operation of the shock absorber, as it creates lateral forces between the piston and cylinder of the shock absorber. Furthermore, the stresses created in the rubber through such deviations from the alignment position result in irregular radial deformation of the rubber, thus causing its premature destruction. A satisfactory yield, though under resistance, is obtainable only in the direction of the axis of the connecting pin.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The basic objective underlying the present invention is the provision of a ball joint attachment allowing omni-directional motion. The joint is preferably yieldable, as well as easily movable, its production being simple and requiring a minimum of material.

According to the invention, this objective is attained by a ball joint attachment, where the ball element for attachment to one part is arranged between ball cups or ball sockets of weldable and preferably resilient plastic material. The ball cups are surrounded by a cylindrical sleeve which is part of or to be attached to the other part. The end faces abut against one another by having the end faces positioned in the plane of the ball equator or in a plane parallel thereto. The abutting end faces of the ball cups are bounded to one another by a friction weld.

The ball joint thus obtained is of a very simple construction, permitting an attachment for omnidirectional motion with a minimum of parts required and without necessitating close manufacturing tolerances. In addition, the ball joint forms a self-contained block and its assembly into a block requires no complicated operations.

In order to assemble the ball joint as suggested by the invention, it is sufficient to introduce the ball element, together with the ball cups surrounding it, into the cylindrical sleeve and to rotate the ball cups relative to one another, while creating sufficient frictional speed and pressure between them, thereby heating their end faces to the welding temperature. As soon as the welding temperature is reached, the rotation is preferably immediately stopped. After a brief cooling period, the drive and compression tools are retracted. To the surface of the ball element may be applied a lubricant, such as graphite. The same can be done with the inner surface of the cylindrical sleeve.

The ball element of the joint preferably includes hollow trunnion extensions on opposite sides and a central bore through the ball part and trunnions whose axis coincides with the axis of the cylindrical sleeve. The central bore and hollow trunnions may serve to accommodate a connecting pin. It is likewise possible to attach the ball element directly at its trunnions. In addition, these trunnions serve to maintain the. axial alignment of the ball element during the assembly of the ball cups by friction welding, the trunnions engaging guide bores in the drive and compression tools, while the later engage the ball cups.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the accompanying drawing is illustrated, by way of an example, an embodiment of the invention as used for the attachment of shock absorbers, represented in the various figures as follows:

FIG. 1 shows in a longitudinal cross-section a ball joint embodying the invention, as attached to the end of a shock absorber; and

FIG. 2 shows in an elevated side view the attachment end of the shock absorber of FIG. 1 with portions of the ball joint itself removed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The drawing and the accompanying description are limited to those parts which are necessary for a full un derstanding of the invention. Of the telescopic shock absorber designated by 1, only the one end is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The attachment ball joint for the other end of the shock absorber, i.e. for the free end of the piston rod, is of corresponding construction.

To the extremity of the shock absorber 1 is attached a cylindrical sleeve 2, which may also be inserted, after assembly of the ball joint, into a suitable eye bore provided at the end of the shock absorber. At the inside of the cylindrical sleeve 2 is arranged a ball element 3 which has two lateral trunnions 4. Through the ball portion and trunnions extends a central bore 5, the axis of which coincides with'the axis of the sleeve 2, and which may accomodate a connecting pin (not shown in the drawing). The ball element 3 is supported by the hollow spherical surfaces of two ball cups 6. The latter are made of a weldable plastic material. The two ball cups 6 abut against one another in a plane 7 which is perpendicular to the bore axis and which coincides with the ball equator. The ball cups are bonded together in this plane 7 by a friction weld. In order to attach the shock absorber, the cylindrical sleeve 2 with the ball element 3 mounted therein is placed between cylindrical sleeve 2, so as to permit angular motion or pivoting motion of the shock absorber.

It is also possible to caulk the cylindrical sleeve 2 after the assembly of I the ball joint, or to add retaining rings or the like in the end portions of the sleeve, so as to prevent axial shifting of the ball element 3 and ball cups 6.

The friction welding operation may be performed in such a way, for example, that. rotary tools 8 are positioned over the trunnions 4 of the ball element 3, the tools having in their end faces claws 9 or similar means which serve to drive the ball cups 6. The trunnions 4 are guided inside the drive tools. The two ball cups 6 are pressed against one another by applying axial pressure to the drive tools. By rotating the tools and cups 6 in opposite directions, frictional heat is created between the abutting faces at 7 of the ball cups, until the welding temperature is reached. When this welding temperature is reached, the drive and compression tools are immediately stopped and, following a brief cooling period, the tools are retracted.

I claim:

l. A ball and socket joint unit comprising:

a. a ball element,

b. a pair of ball cup members surrounding said ball element, said ball cup members being of weldable resilient plastic material, and having mating surfaces, said mating surfaces being bonded together by a friction weld,

c. an open ended cylindrical sleeve surrounding said ball cup members so as to expose the entire end face of each cup member to provide maximum gripping surfaces for rotary tools, and 3 d. hollow trunnion extensions on said ball element extending coaxially from each end of said ball element, said trunnion extensions each having an outer cylindrical surface which extends substantially normal to said end faces whereby said trunnion extensions extend a sufiicient distance from said ball element to provide a guide surface for the rotary tools acting on said end faces.

2. A ball and socket joint as defined in claim 1 wherein said extensions have a central bore extending therethrough and through said ball element. Y

3. A ball and socket joint as defined in claim 1 wherein said ball cups are substantially symmetrical and said mating surfaces are substantially along the equator of said ball element. 

1. A ball and socket joint unit comprising: a. a ball element, b. a pair of ball cup members surrounding said ball element, said ball cup members being of weldable resilient plastic material, and having mating surfaces, said mating surfaces being bonded together by a friction weld, c. an open ended cylindrical sleeve surrounding said ball cup members so as to expose the entire end face of each cup member to provide maximum gripping surfaces for rotary tools, and d. hollow trunnion extensions on said ball element extending coaxially from each end of said ball element, said trunnion extensions each having an outer cylindrical surface which extends substantially normal to said end faces whereby said trunnion extensions extend a sufficient distance from said ball element to provide a guide surface for the rotary tools acting on said end faces.
 2. A ball and socket joint as defined in claim 1 wherein said extensions have a central bore extending therethrough and through said ball element.
 3. A ball and socket joint as defined in claim 1 wherein said ball cups are substantially symmetrical and said mating surfaces are substantially along the equator of said ball element. 